i have no kids of my own, but since i benefit from your kids being in school, and i now have vested interest in their education i should be able to ground them if they do not meet my scholastic expectations? i should be able to take away their toys?

The school taxes in PA are totally out of whack! They contribute to a system of inequity among school districts based on income and property values of the local residents. I really think that property taxes should go into a state-wide fund that gets distributed based on population. Taxes would then be based on a state-wide budget rather than pet projects such as building new schools and adding luxury items such as HDTVs to classrooms when they are not really needed.

I realize that with the corrupt system of politicians we have in PA that this will never come to pass, but one can hope, can't we?

Way to go Jim!...Great way to answer this kind of question but seriously aren't we just kidding ourselves here? I agree with Jim Ireyna however there should be some sort of voluntary tax basis or relief for vacant land...or at least a smaller fee/tax bassis?...Don't you agree?

Nicely put Jim. A very elegant way of stating this.

You have a debt to society, because you benefit from your membership in a society that values education as a foundation for progress.

You own property in the municipality. Why should you not have to pay school taxes? You have the opportunity to build; the fact that you do not is your opportunity cost.

Dear Ireyna,

I am in the process of purchasing a buildable lot in the PA area. Please contact me if you are planning on selling your lot. My contact info is (Cell): 267-280-3234 or email vuvpatel@yahoo.com

Unfortunately, school taxes are like viewing art....Everyone has an opinion! Of course, the "good of the public" excuse is the reason we charge those with no kids, or homes on vacant lots, school taxes.

On the positive side, you Pennsylvania real estate taxes are LOW because the land is vacant. I would hate to think what you would be paying if there was an empty house on the lot!

I have to pay taxes (high taxes on a house vs a vacant lot) when I do not send my children to public school...on top of tuition...my elderly neighbor just moved here and is paying $6,000 school taxes when she has no kids....If only those who sent their kids to school paid taxes, it would be unaffordable for them.

The cost of schooling is spread out proportionately among everyone in the district because of the benefit we all receive from having school available for our young ones.

Good question.

Good question. Unfortunately, you can't escape taxes!. :-( Vacant land as well as land with buildings is assessed for real estate taxes. The amount of taxes is dependent on the 'assessed value', which was established at a point in time. Some municipalities regularly update their assessed values with general area wide assessments, while others only add assessed value when there is new building activity on a given property. In many areas of Pennsylvania Real Estate taxes are used to support the local school district as well as to fund county road maintenance.
If you feel that the tax is excessive, you may want to contact your taxing body and ask for an adjustment..

Mim Heisey
REALTOR, GRI
Real Estate Pro in Shippensburg PA
717-360-8808
mim@mris.com
halere.com

Hi...

In PA, this is a property tax- regardless of whether or not there is a building on it. Our taxes are based on a multiplier (millage rate), as determined by municipality- times (x) the ASSESSED value...In Lancaster Co. and neighboring counties, tax assessments are not to be confused w/ APPRAISED value....Assessed value is merely the multiplier for taxes. Happy to speak with you about this, if I've confused you! It's a bit hard to convey via a web post. :)